Mailbag Question: NCAA rule about numbers

Dear Guys,

We now have twenty-one commits as of 12/11/09 (This e-mail was before Barnes decision to de-commit).

Out of a possible twenty-five for this 2009 recruiting class what are the NCAA rules on numbers allowed on signing day and what is that scenario currently for Michigan?
Once you get to twenty-five do coaches then keep going and pull offers to assure the key components/players get their spot?

How are the early graduates / January entries at Michigan such as Forcier and Beaver affecting the total number of allowed commits?

These young men are turning out a fantastic class so far. You can truly see some of the explosive and powerful future ahead in their physical makeup, athleticism, character, and abilities.

What are some scenarios the coaches are running in their recruiting schedules to assure against or at least cover for drops from the commitment list, further attrition or athletes busting down the door to take part?

Go Blue!

Great work Guys! Support these Coaches, the effort of Champions and their endeavors!

Jay

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Thanks for the question and the comments.

Recruiting is a non-stop endeavor. Coaches have a much better idea than we do which commitments are solid and which are soft at this time, because they visit the recruits in their homes and get the chance to talk with the players and their families.

For recruits who they consider "soft" commits, they, of course, have back up plans ready just in case. A good example of this is the Newsome case: Michigan kept in contact with Tate Forcier and was able to replace Newsome.

NCAA rules allows a maximum of twenty-five scholarships per year and a maximum of eighty-five total. You can over-sign if some are questionable qualifiers, but must get down to the twenty-five number. The Big Ten allows teams to sign three additional recruits.

You can also take additional players: if the previous class was under twenty-five, and recruits enroll in the winter semester or spring quarter, which technically go on the previous year of recruiting. A player like Stonum, who last year enrolled early, does not count in the 2008 class. Players that have already left the team from the 2008 recruiting class, such as Sam McGuffie, Taylor Hill and Marcus Witherspoon, open up spots and allow Michigan to recruit players to fill those spots.

Written by CoachBt and ErocWolverine